Breastfeeding Medicine Physician in Central Florida
Some breastfeeding problems are more than just technique. If you’re dealing with persistent pain, unexplained low milk supply, chronic health conditions, or emotional distress around feeding, you need more than encouragement — you need clinical answers.
Dr. Kelly Martinkus is a licensed physician and IBCLC offering specialized breastfeeding medicine consultations. These appointments go beyond traditional lactation care to include diagnosis, lab work, imaging, prescriptions, and treatment planning for complex medical challenges that affect lactation.
Whether you’re a first-time parent or navigating this with medical history in tow, we take your symptoms seriously — and build a plan designed for your body, your baby, and your goals.
Complex Maternal Health Conditions Affecting Lactation
Chronic health conditions can directly impact milk production and breastfeeding success, but many go undiagnosed in the postpartum period. If you’ve been told “just keep nursing” but nothing is improving or if you’ve been told “some women just can’t breastfeed,” it’s time for a deeper evaluation.
Common medical factors we address include:
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Thyroid disease (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism)
- Insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome
- Diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, or gestational)
- Hypertension
- Anemia and nutrient deficiencies
- Low prolactin or delayed lactogenesis II
- Insufficient glandular tissue (IGT) or breast hypoplasia
- History of breast or chest surgery
- History of fertility treatments or IVF
- Advanced maternal age
- Chronic illness with or without medication use
Dr. Martinkus can assess underlying causes of low milk supply, review your labs and medications, and create a medical plan to support lactation — or explain why nursing may be medically impacted and what your options are moving forward.
Diagnosing and Treating Breastfeeding-Related Pain
Painful breastfeeding isn’t always due to a poor latch. Some types of pain require medical diagnosis and treatment — not just positioning tweaks or creams.
Conditions we treat include:
- Vasospasm
- Neuropathic pain
- Dermatitis or Perceived Thrush (Candida)
- Milk blebs and clogged ducts
- Mastitis (infectious and inflammatory)
- Galactocele (milk-filled cysts)
- Mammary dysbiosis (bacterial imbalance)
With the right treatment plan — and medication support if needed — we can reduce inflammation, eliminate infection, and help you breastfeed comfortably again.
Supporting Mental Health in the Feeding Journey
Emotional well-being is deeply tied to feeding success — and sometimes the signs are subtle.
If you’re experiencing:
- Crying or anxiety during feeds
- Emotional crashes right before or during letdown
- Extreme fatigue not explained by sleep deprivation
- Persistent guilt, shame, or hopelessness around feeding
… you’re not alone, and it’s not “just hormones.”
Dr. Martinkus offers support for:
- Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety
- Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (DMER)
- Medical fatigue and mental health red flags impacting lactation
Together, we’ll validate what you’re feeling, screen for underlying causes, and coordinate appropriate treatment, without pushing you toward any one feeding choice.
Infant Medical Conditions Impacting Feeding
Sometimes the concern isn’t just with milk production — it’s with your baby’s ability to feed or gain weight. That doesn’t mean breastfeeding has to end. It just means we need to investigate further.
Dr. Martinkus provides medical support for infants with:
- Slow weight gain or Failure to Thrive (FTT)
- Neonatal jaundice (in partnership with your pediatrician)
- Prematurity, NICU discharge concerns
- Anatomic barriers:
- Cleft palate or lip
- Down Syndrome
- Hypotonia or low muscle tone
- Chronic conditions, including genetic or metabolic disorders
- GERD or reflux
- Food protein intolerance or allergy (e.g., cow’s milk protein allergy)
Every case includes a thorough review of symptoms, feeding history, and physical development, so you know what’s happening and how to move forward.
Oral Function, Tongue Tie & Frenotomy Referrals
You’ll receive evidence-based information on:
- Surgical approaches: scissors vs. laser vs. electrocautery
- Therapy support: oral habilitation with Speech, Occupational, or Physical Therapists
- Bodywork options:
- Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM)
- Craniosacral Therapy (CST)
- Craniosacral Fascial Therapy (CFT)
- Infant chiropractic care
We’ll help you make an informed decision — without pressure or bias.
Additional Breastfeeding Medicine Services
- Pre-surgical and pre-procedure consultations
- Medication safety review during lactation
- Rapid weaning plans for medical reasons
- Inducing lactation for adoptive, surrogate, or non-gestational parents
- Re-lactation support for those restarting breastfeeding after a pause
- Lab work and imaging ordered as part of medical evaluation
- Prescriptions, herbals, and supplements as appropriate
- Therapeutic Ultrasound
When Breastfeeding Feels Like a Medical Mystery — We Can Help
Whether you’re struggling with symptoms no one has explained, or you’ve already seen multiple providers without relief — you’re not out of options.
Dr. Martinkus will listen to your full story, evaluate medical contributors, and give you a clear, evidence-based plan to move forward.
Sometimes you don’t have a diagnosis — you just have a gut feeling.
You’re exhausted.
You’re crying during feeds.
You’re touched out.
You’re trying everything, and nothing seems to help. Maybe you’re dealing with:
- Baby who’s not gaining weight
- Bottle preference or refusal
- Latch pain with no visible trauma
- Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (DMER)
- Postpartum anxiety or exhaustion
Dr. Martinkus takes your entire story into account, not just your milk output. She will listen deeply and evaluate the full picture Whether it’s a minor tweak or a major breakthrough, we’re here to support you with calm, clinical clarity – without judgement.
What to Expect from Your Appointment
✔️ A comprehensive review of your medical, pregnancy, and breastfeeding history
✔️ Evaluation of current medications, supplements, and herbal remedies
✔️ Discussion of symptoms and concerns, including physical and emotional factors
✔️ Informed guidance on labs or imaging, if clinically indicated
✔️ A clear, evidence-based treatment plan rooted in your preferences and goals
✔️ Coordination with your existing providers or lactation consultant, as needed
✔️ Access to two weeks of follow-up text support for ongoing questions or updates